Antique Japanese Box
09 April 2021
Description

Height (w/handle) 11 3/4” Width/Depth 7 1/2” Removable lid and top section Brass trim - including pin that keeps everything together. Inherited from great aunt who lived in Japan during the 1930s

Provenance

Inherited from great aunt who lived in Japan during the 1930s

Acquired from
Inherited
For sale
No
Answered within 2 days
By Leah I.
Apr 11, 11:13 UTC
Fair Market Value
$80 - $150 USD
Insurance Value $0 USD
What does this mean?

Thank you for contacting Mearto. This is an antique Japanese picnic box (jubako). Oftentimes, these boxes are made of black or red laquered wood, with paintings or inlay design. I haven’t seen many with carved natural wood and wicker. The characters on the lid mean good luck. I added some links below as examples of other jubakos for you to view. The first is from the Met. Then there’s a really valuable one from Bonham’s just to compare. The rest are more recent ones that reflect current auction prices. The lacquer versions tend to go for slightly higher prices. The Fair Market Value for your jubako is between $80 and $150.

Historical info about jubako from source: https://www.grandauctions.co.uk/blog/japanese-art-jubako-boxes

“Jubako boxes first appeared during the Japanese Muromachi period (1333 – 1573). Initially they were used as a convenient way to serve individual meals at a banquet. However, they later became a convenient, functional food storage item particularly used during the New Year season when social and family obligations became paramount meaning less time was available to spend cooking.”

Lacquered 18th century Jubako:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/40481

$3750, lacquer
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/20905/lot/2302/

$378, lacquer
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/25367/lot/10/

$225 lacquer
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/90530989_antique-japanese-lacquerware-jubako-picnic-box

$140, lacquer
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/1571620_4081-japanese-lacquer-jubako-meijitaisho

$70, this one closely resembles yours:
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/18172303_vintage-japanese-picnic-basket

$70, wooden
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/1655672_1436-chinese-wood-and-woven-straw-jubako-bento

$125, wooden
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/12430833_211-japanese-imari-stacking-porcelain-jubako-in-origin

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